Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie has accused Pakistan’s interim head coach, Aaqib Javed, of working behind the scenes to secure the coaching position across all formats. In a recent revelation, Gillespie claimed that Aaqib undermined both him and former white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten, leading to their eventual exits.
Gillespie, who was initially appointed as Pakistan’s red-ball head coach, took over white-ball responsibilities after Kirsten abruptly left in October last year, just six months into his contract. However, two months later, Gillespie also stepped down, paving the way for Aaqib to take charge on an interim basis.
Pakistan’s Poor Champions Trophy Campaign Sparks Criticism
Pakistan’s disastrous performance in the Champions Trophy, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage, put Aaqib in the spotlight. He attributed the team’s struggles to constant changes within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
However, Gillespie hit back at Aaqib’s remarks, accusing him of orchestrating a campaign to secure the coaching position.
Gillespie Calls Aaqib a ‘Clown’ for Backdoor Tactics
Reacting strongly to Aaqib’s involvement, Gillespie shared his frustration on Instagram, stating:
“This is hilarious. Aaqib was clearly undermining Gary and I behind the scenes campaigning to be the coach in all formats. He is a clown.”
New Zealand Crushes Pakistan’s Hopes in Home Tournament
As Pakistan hosted a major global cricket event for the first time in nearly three decades, New Zealand dashed their hopes with a commanding 60-run victory. Pakistan’s fate in the tournament depended on Bangladesh defeating New Zealand, but the Kiwis secured a five-wicket win, eliminating both teams. Their final group match against Bangladesh was washed out due to persistent rain.
Pakistan Overhauls White-Ball Setup After Disastrous Run
Following their disappointing campaign, the PCB initiated a major overhaul of the white-ball squad to prepare for upcoming ICC tournaments. With questions surrounding team management and coaching stability, the changes mark a fresh start for Pakistan cricket as they look to rebuild for future challenges.
